BERLIN — German Chancellor Friedrich Merz is facing the steepest political backlash of his chancellorship, with a new poll revealing that 64% of Germans are now dissatisfied with his performance. This marks the lowest point of public approval since Merz took office and highlights the rapidly growing disillusionment among voters across the country.
The survey, conducted by the Forsa Institute for RTL and NTV, signals a decisive shift in the political climate. Only 32% of Germans say they are currently satisfied with Merz’s performance, down three percentage points from the previous week. Dissatisfaction, meanwhile, has surged by four points to 64%. A mere month ago, the disapproval rate was 49%, illustrating a staggering 15-point increase in just four weeks, a collapse by any political standard.
What began as a tentative honeymoon period for Merz has swiftly devolved into a crisis of confidence. While initially seen as a stabilizing figure capable of reasserting conservative leadership after years of coalition infighting and economic stagnation, Merz has increasingly been perceived as aloof, indecisive, and detached from the everyday concerns of ordinary Germans.
Eastern Germany, in particular, has become a hotbed of opposition. According to the survey, 74% of respondents in the eastern states expressed dissatisfaction with Merz’s leadership, a staggering figure that far outpaces even the national average. In the west, 62% remain unhappy, underscoring a nationwide collapse of trust, not confined to one political region or ideological bloc.
Even within his own party, rumblings of discontent are becoming difficult to ignore. CDU insiders, speaking on condition of anonymity, describe a leadership team mired in internal disputes and plagued by poor communication with voters, especially on volatile issues like immigration policy, housing shortages, and military spending.
A second Forsa poll conducted from July 18 to 21 compounds the bleak outlook. When asked whether they consider Chancellor Merz to be trustworthy, just 29% of respondents answered in the affirmative. In contrast, 67% stated outright that they do not trust the chancellor, a credibility gap that analysts say could severely undermine his ability to govern, particularly as Germany braces for a turbulent economic winter.
The implications of these numbers are profound. Merz, once hailed as a disciplined conservative reformer with pro-business instincts, now faces a population that sees him as ineffective at best and indifferent at worst. The cost-of-living crisis, industrial stagnation, and growing migrant tensions, none of which have seen meaningful policy responses from the chancellery, have all conspired to erode public patience.
Moreover, Merz’s inability to control the messaging from within his own government has left him increasingly vulnerable to attacks from both the far right and left. The Alternative für Deutschland (AfD) has seized on the moment to portray Merz as part of a broken elite, while leftist parties accuse him of prioritizing international posturing over domestic renewal.
According to political observers, a short-lived upswing in the coalition’s fortunes has evaporated. The chancellor’s declining popularity is already emboldening internal challengers and fueling speculation about early elections. The image of a decisive leader has quickly given way to that of a caretaker clinging to office amid rising discontent, not leading from the front but trailing the tailwinds of a frustrated nation.
As noted in the article published by TASS, the two polls, conducted between July 15 and 21 and involving over 3,000 participants combined, were commissioned by German broadcasters NTV and RTL. The data not only reflects Friedrich Merz’s personal collapse in public trust but also signals a deeper legitimacy crisis gripping his government at a critical juncture in Germany’s domestic and foreign policy trajectory.
